Electric switch



.Patented Dec. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFlcE v CARL BRAMMIN G, OF MARION, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO DELTA ELECTRIC COMPANY, F

MARION, INDIANA, A CORPORATION i ELECTRIC SWITCH Application med March 1, 192s. serial No. 258,271.

This-invention relates to a double throw,

one or two pole electric switch.

The principal object of this invention is to provide a switch of this character with a ball bearing slide, and recess for engaging with the ball bearing -for checking the operation of the switch atthe neutral point. By means of this arrangement, a more positive switch action is obtained, and it is given greater life by reason of the anti-frictional relationship of the sliding member and base.

The full nature of the invention will be more clearly understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the switch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig.'3 showing the switch in neu' tral position. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1 with, the switch in neutral position. Fig. 6 is the same as Fig. 4 with the vswitch in contacting position.

In the-drawings there is shown a switch 5 having a face plate 10 provided with a longitudinaflvslot 11 in which the switch operating handle 12 is adapted to slide. Face plate 10 is provided with turned up sides 13 provided with clamps 14 for securing therebetween the contact supporting plate 15 formed of insulating material. Mounted in the plate 15 there are three connecting sockets 16, 17 and 18 provided with screws 19 for securing wire leads into the recesses formed therein.

Slidably mounted within the closure formed by the face plate, its sides 13Y and the supporting plate 15, as well as the ends 20 formedfrom the sides 13, there is a contact carriage 21 having end plates 22 in which is positioned a contact block 23 provided with a plurality of recesses 24. The contact members 25 and 26 are formed at the free ends of the contact strip 27, said ends being bent inwardly toward each other as illustrated. Said strip is provided with downwardly extending ears 28 adapted to project in their corresponding recesses 24 so as to cause the Contact members to be carriedwby the block 23. The handle-12 is secured tothe carriage 21 so that upon `sliding said handle longitusuceur-:D

vdinally of the slot 11, it will cause said carriage, as Well as the block 23 and contactors, l to slidel longitudinally with respect to thev supporting plate 15.-

The face plate 10 is provided with an opening or indentation therein as indicated at 29 in 'which the ball 30 is adapted to seat when brought into engagement therewith. Said ball is held in position by a suitable recess 31 formed in the carriage 21 so as to bear against the under surface of block 23. -By this arrangement, when the carriage is moved from one position to another, the blocky 23 is slightly raised against the spring tension of the contactor, thus increasing the pressure between the contacting ends 25 and 26 thereof and their corresponding connector sockets, as illustrated in Fig. 6. When the switch is moved to neutral position as shown in Fig. 5, the ball 30 finds its seat in the hole3() of the face plate, and is held therein by the tension of the contactor. Thus the movement of the switch is limited bythe end of the slot 11 when in contacting position, and is held in its intermediate position by the engagementof the ball with the opening when in neutral position. It will be noted that the surface intermediate the recesses 32 of the connecting sockets is relatively smooth to permit free sliding action of the contactor ,ends 25 and 26 from one socket to the other.

The invention claimed is:

1. A switch of the character described, comprising ahousing, a plurality of contact members mounted thereon, spring contactors adapted to engage and make contact therewith, a carriage for supporting said spring contactors, saidcarriage having an opening therein, a support upon which said carriage is adapted to slide having a recess therein and a ball bearing adapted to ride within the opening of said carriage in position to register with the recess in said support for resiliently holding said carriage in predetermined position under the sprlng tension of said spring contactors.

2. A switch of the character described, com prising a housing having a plurality of contact members, a carriage slideably mounted in said housing having a pair of spring con- 100 tactors mounted thereon in position to yieldingly malte contact with said members when in one position and be out of contact therewith when in a neutral position, and means associated with said carriage for maintaining it in position under spring tension when in neutral position, permitting it to be moved under increased spring tension into contacting position.

' 3i A switch of the character described, comprising a housing having a plurality of contact members, a carriage slideably mounted in said housing having a pair of spring contactors mounted thereon in postion'to yieldingly make contact with said members when in one position and be out of contact therewith when in a neutral position, a recess formed in said housing, and a ball bearing mounted in said carriage adapted to drop into said recess under tension of said spring contactors when moved to neutral position,

and be forced out of said recess against the spring tension of the spring contactors for increasing the contacting pressure thereof when moved into contacting position.

4,. A switch of the character described comprising a housing, a plurality of Contact memers mounted thereon, yielding spring contactors adapted to engage and make Contact therewith, a block carried by said contactors and resiliently held in spaced relation from said Contact members by resilient action thereon, a carriage in which said block is movably mounted with respect to said contact members, said carriage having an opening therein, a face plate with respect to which said carriage and bloclr are adapted to slide having a recess therein, a ball bearing adapted to ride/within the opening of said carriage in position to register with the recess -in said plate when said carriage is moved to one position for interlocking said carriage and plate, and upon said carriage being moved to another position said ball will disengage the recess in said plate for spacing said block against the tension of said contactors from said carriage and thereby acting as a frictionless bearing intermediate said block and plate.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

CARL BRAMMING. 

